Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday expressed confidence that the alleged conspiracy to tarnish Dharmasthala's image will come to light through the ongoing investigation. He also indicated that strict action would be taken if the allegations in the Dharmasthala "mass burial" case are found to be false, reported news agency PTI.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up by the state government, is probing claims of mass murder, rape, and mass burials in Dharmasthala spanning the past two decades.

The complainant, a former sanitation worker whose identity has been kept confidential, alleged that between 1995 and 2014, he was forced to handle bodies, including those of women and minors, some of which bore signs of sexual assault. He has submitted a statement before a magistrate, reported PTI.